Vol. 560 No. 1
538 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will establish a river authority in a town (details supplied) in County Cork comprising members from all vested groups to regularise the use of the river (details supplied). [27036/02]
I have no power under the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2001 to establish an authority to regularise the use of the River Blackwater as suggested by the Deputy. Under these Acts, the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, which operates under the aegis of my Department, is responsible for the management, protection, conservation and development only of fisheries in the southern fisheries region, including the River Blackwater.
